Where are the biggest 1980s movie stars now? From $400m fortunes to blacklisted icons

Sean Young co-starred with Harrison Ford in iconic sci-fi hit Blade Runner (1982) and joined Kevin Costner in action thriller No Way Out (1987). But while her star shone brightly during the ‘80s, Sean was targeted by higher powers in the industry.

After rejecting the advances of several Hollywood directors and co-stars, Sean was labelled as ‘difficult’. She has claimed that directors like Ridley Scott and Warren Beatty both blacklisted her for rejecting them

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) made Chevy Chase a household name, while other hits like Caddyshack (1980), Fletch (1985) and Christmas Vacation (1989) ensured he stayed a stalwart of the business.

More recently, Chevy returned to the franchise that earned him fame in 2015’s Vacation, starred in The Christmas Letter (2024) and is due to appear in The Ogilvy Fortune, a comedy about a butler who stole millions in pirate gold. 

Geena Davis was a defining leading lady of the ‘80s and ‘90s, with roles in Thelma & Louise (1991), A League of Their Own (1992) and The Fly (1986). With her enviable hair and emotive expressions, Geena was built to be a star.

The Oscar-winning actress is still gracing the red carpet today and has recently appeared in The Boroughs (2026), The Wrong Girls (2026) and Blink Twice (2024). Geena has also expanded into production work, with credits as an executive producer on Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove (2019-2026) and This Changes Everything (2018). 

If you were a teenager in the ‘80s, there’s a good chance you were crushing on Michael Schoeffling as high school heartthrob Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles. Alongside Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall, he captured the hearts of John Hughes fans across the world.

But after finding star success in Sixteen Candles, Michael only appeared in eight more movies. Instead, he opted for a quieter, more private life. The former actor set up a woodworking business in Pennsylvania, where he moved with his wife Valerie. The couple share two children: Scarlett and Zane.

William Hurt started the decade with a film debut in horror Altered States. The very next year he found mainstream fame, co-starring with Kathleen Turner in erotic thriller Body Heat and went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985). 

The respect piled on with projects like The Big Chill, Children of a Lesser God, Broadcast News and The Accidental Tourist. His fame continued into the 2010s, with the actor finding fans of a new generation in the Avengers and Captain America Marvel series. The actor sadly passed away in 2022 at the age of 71.

Phoebe Cates appeared in several of the ‘80s biggest blockbusters, starring in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Gremlins and Drop Dead Fred. But Hollywood wasn’t Phoebe’s calling, and she decided to step back from the screen after 1994’s Princess Caraboo.

Now, she’s living a contented life away from the spotlight with husband Kevin Kline, with whom she shares two children. She now makes a living as the founder of Blue Tree boutique in New York, selling women’s fashion, jewelry and gifts. 

The Rocky star ruled the ‘80s, with boxing blockbusters Rocky III (1982) and Rocky IV (1985), as well as action thriller First Blood (1982). Sylvester Stallone has built a reputation as an iconic action hero and, fortunately, can still be seen on screen today.

The three-time Oscar nominee has recently starred in TV series Tulsa King and spy thriller Alarum (2025), as well as working behind the camera as a producer on projects like Extracted (2025-2026) and directing features such as The Expendables (2010). All of this star power has earned him an estimated net worth of $400 million. 

Glenn Close is an icon of the screen, counting ‘80s cult classic Fatal Attraction (1987) and a star role in Dangerous Liaisons (1988) among her most famous credits. Since then, she’s continued to star in blockbuster projects like 101 Dalmatians (1996) and The Deliverance (2024), with a cameo in fantasy epic Hook (1991).

A new generation has discovered the actress’ talents, with the eight-time Academy Award nominee starring in Knives Out sequel Wake Up Dead Man (2025), lawyer drama All’s Fair (2025) and La bola negra (2026).

Rob Lowe was the resident pretty boy of the Brat Pack who starred in hits like St. Elmo’s Fire, The Outsiders and About Last Night. With his piercing eyes and rom-com-ready floppy locks, it’s no wonder Rob became a favourite of the ‘80s. 

He’s still acting today, starring in TV series like 9-1-1: Lone Star, the 2026 feature The Musical and joining his son for a co-starring role on Unstable. Eighties kids will be glad to know he’s stepping back into the land of romance with the upcoming Christmas feature In a Holidaze, a rom-com based on a similar concept to Groundhog Day.